EFFINGHAM, SC – A deadly deception led to the brutal killing of a woman who thought she was meeting someone to buy a puppy, authorities say, leaving a rural South Carolina community in shock and three people facing serious charges.
Florence County Sheriff’s deputies rushed to the scene near Atlantic Road and Springbranch Road just before dusk last week, where they encountered a burning vehicle. Inside, they discovered the remains of 40-year-old Dana Marie Kinlaw, who was later identified as a resident of the small town of Olanta. Initial findings revealed Kinlaw had been shot before being set ablaze inside the car.
Investigators allege the deadly encounter was no accident. Instead, they believe Kinlaw was lured to the remote area through the promise of purchasing a dog, but the plan quickly turned deadly. Authorities now suspect the slaying was an act of retaliation linked to a previous homicide miles away in Darlington County.
According to officials, 19-year-old Iryanna Jarisha Fleming, along with Daquinn Taheen Thomas and Nikko Christopher Carraway, both 31, have each been charged with murder, first-degree arson, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Fleming, said to be an acquaintance of Kinlaw, reportedly accompanied her to what Kinlaw believed was a pet purchase.
Sheriff’s deputies say the assailants shot Kinlaw before dousing her body in flammable liquid and igniting the car while she remained inside. Emergency personnel arrived to find flames still engulfing the vehicle.
The investigation has revealed indications that the murder may have been a calculated reprisal. Authorities stated there is a connection to a homicide that took place in Darlington County, roughly 35 miles away. Law enforcement officials suspect Kinlaw’s son may have played a role in the earlier killing, prompting a cycle of violence that culminated in her death.
While the Florence County Coroner’s Office has scheduled an autopsy to gather more details about the cause of death, the grisly nature of the crime has left neighbors on edge. The quiet farming area, generally buffered from such violence, now finds itself under the scrutiny of a multi-agency investigation.
Fleming and Thomas were apprehended and booked into the Florence County Detention Center, awaiting bond hearings. Carraway, the third suspect, was arrested two days later. Authorities have not released further details on the suspects’ alleged roles in the planning or execution of the killing.
As detectives work with agencies in both Florence and Darlington counties, law enforcement have cautioned that this may not be the end of the investigation. Possible links to other incidents or suspects continue to be reviewed as forensic and ballistic evidence is analyzed.
Meanwhile, residents of Effingham and Olanta are left searching for answers and hoping for justice as more details emerge from the ongoing investigation.